“Yeah. She owed money to some unpleasant people. The type that don’t send written warnings, they just show up and break your ankles.”
“And the debt? Do you need help still? I can ask Alfie?—”
“Paid off. I don’t do charity. Mum's dead now so no more debt coming.”
“I’m sorry.”
Maia shrugged. “Parents will fuck you up if you let them. You should be careful about your father.”
“You don’t think I should let him be a part of my life?”
“I think that addicts are predictably unpredictable. I think they’re incredible liars and I think your father probably isn’t telling you the whole truth.”
I’d felt as much myself. He was holding a lot back.
“How do I find out what he’s hiding?”
“Talk to Elliot, talk to Mr Tell. You have resources at your fingertips now. Use them.” With that, she left me alone, disappearing inside.
I looked down at my half-empty cup of tea. As gross as it made me feel to snoop on my father, I was starting to think shemight be making a good point. Why should I go in blind if I didn’t have to?
I stood, wiping my face clear of the tears that hadn’t fallen yet. I still had the rest of the day to get through and I wasn’t about to let my Daddy Drama ruin it.
“Lola?”Oh fuck.My heart sank at the sound of the sharp voice. I’d managed to avoid Julia over the last few days. She stayed in her work space on set and I stayed in mine with Sid and the sculptures.
I turned to see her striding across the patio towards me. I suddenly became very aware that we were alone. Well, no one from work was here anyway. Maia had returned inside but was never very far from me.
“Julia, what can I do for you? I haven’t gone over my lunch break and I’m heading back to work now.”
“Oh no, it’s not that,” she smiled, all friendliness. “I just wanted to clear the air, apologise for everything. My behaviour was out of line.”
I opened my mouth to do the ‘polite’ thing and say that it was fine and not to worry about it, then I thought about what Alfie would do and instead I let him rub off on me a bit.
“Yes, it was out of line. Thank you for the apology. Please excuse me, I have work to do.” I attempted to move past her but she stepped with me, preventing me from leaving.
Alarm bells began to ring. My eyes darted around searching for someone, anyone nearby. Over Julia’s shoulder, I spotted Maia, watching from the kitchen window. Waiting. She was waiting for a reason to step in, treading the line between keeping me safe and not wanting to interfere in a conversation with my boss.
I wondered how much use she would be if Julia actually tried to hurt me, then I realised how stupid that was. Elliot wouldn’t have hired her just for aesthetics.
“I wanted to ask you, if you would speak to Mr Tell about re-invoking my membership?” She had to be kidding but from the earnest look on her face, apparently she wasn’t. “I feel that this has all been a misunderstanding that I’m sure we can get past.”
“Club business isn’t my business. You will have to speak to Mr Tell yourself or Mr Marx. Breaching the rules again by once again approaching me about this in a professional space is not the way to go about it.”
“I understand but I’m desperate. You see, it’s not just the Never Tell Club I’ve been removed from. This whole thing has gotten out of hand…” she trailed off, twisting her hands in a distressed manner that I wasn’t sure I trusted.
“You’re a member of other…clubs?”
“Oh yes. Quite a few. The lifestyle is very important to me. So you see, you must understand…”
“I understand that you’ve been a part of this world long enough to know the rules. I’m also guessing that I’m not the first person you’ve tried to cross boundaries with.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, the mask starting to slip now that she realised she wasn’t getting her way.
“Julia, you still have a job because of me, because I told Alfie not to fire you. Instead of asking me for another favour, maybe you should try thanking me for the one I’ve already done for you.” This time I pushed past her with more force. She grabbed my arm and yanked me to her.
“Bitch,” she spat. “I’ve been punishing girls like you my whole?—”
Suddenly, she was pulled away from me. Maia twisted her arm behind her back and threw her over the table. Tea spilled, scalding her arm and making her yell. Maia had her wrist in some kind of hold that had Julia writhing and gritting her teeth.
